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September 23, 2016

By Jenny Wells

This weekend, the University of Kentucky Department of Biology will kick off its monthlong celebration of Thomas Hunt Morgan's 150th birthday with two screenings of "The Fly Room," a film based on Morgan's research lab. Alexis Gambis — writer, director and producer of the film — will give opening remarks.

The first screening will take place 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan House (210 North Broadway) and the second screening will be held from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at the Kentucky Theatre (214 E. Main). The event is free and open to the public.

These two screenings are part of the monthlong celebration of UK Biology's most famous alumnus and Lexington’s sole Nobel Laureate, Thomas Hunt Morgan. Born in Lexington in 1866, Morgan received his bachelor's (1886) and master's (1888) degrees from the State College of Kentucky (now the University of Kentucky). He then received a doctoral degree in biology from the Johns Hopkins University.

Originally interested in development, regeneration and embryology, Morgan is most famous for his discovery of sex-linked inheritance and the identity of the chromosome as the location for our genes. He and his students at Columbia University and then the California Institute of Technology went on to discover many details of inheritance, establishing the fruit fly as the premier model organism for the study of modern genetics. He received the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for this line of research in 1933.

Over the next four weeks, UK Biology will host many outreach events and activities, including BioBonanza, an all-ages open house, on Friday, Oct. 1, in the new Don & Cathy Jacobs Science Building.

"It is an exciting time to be a biologist, and it is an even more exciting time to be a UK biologist," said Vincent Cassone, chair of the department. "Our past is eminent, and our future is bright. Come join us; we’ll show you something very cool."

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, visit uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue